He had only the one day for his action, and he knew that Violet was watched by Lady Baldock as by a dragon.  He was told that the Earl was out with the young ladies, and was shown to his room.  On going to the drawing-room he found Lady Baldock, with whom he had been, to a certain degree, a favourite, and was soon deeply engaged in a conversation as to the practicability of shutting up all the breweries and distilleries by Act of Parliament.  But lunch relieved him, and brought the young ladies in at two.  Miss Effingham seemed to be really glad to see him, and even Miss Boreham, Lady Baldock’s daughter, was very gracious to him.  For the Earl had been speaking well of his young member, and Phineas had in a way grown into the good graces of sober and discreet people.  After lunch they were to ride;—­the Earl, that is, and Violet.  Lady Baldock and her daughter were to have the carriage.  “I can mount you, Finn, if you would like it,” said the Earl.  “Of course he’ll like it,” said Violet; “do you suppose Mr. Finn will object to ride with me in Saulsby Woods?  It won’t be the first time, will it?” “Violet,” said Lady Baldock, “you have the most singular way of talking.”  “I suppose I have,” said Violet; “but I don’t think I can change it now.  Mr. Finn knows me too well to mind it much.”

It was past five before they were on horseback, and up to that time Phineas had not found himself alone with Violet Effingham for a moment.  They had sat together after lunch in the dining-room for nearly an hour, and had sauntered into the hall and knocked about the billiard balls, and then stood together at the open doors of a conservatory.  But Lady Baldock or Miss Boreham had always been there.  Nothing could be more pleasant than Miss Effingham’s words, or more familiar than her manner to Phineas.  She had expressed strong delight at his success in getting a seat in Parliament, and had talked to him about the Kennedys as though they had created some special bond of union between her and Phineas which ought to make them intimate.  But, for all that, she could not be got to separate herself from Lady Baldock;—­and when she was told that if she meant to ride she must go and dress herself, she went at once.

But he thought that he might have a chance on horseback; and after they had been out about half an hour, chance did favour him.  For awhile he rode behind with the carriage, calculating that by his so doing the Earl would be put off his guard, and would be disposed after awhile to change places with him.  And so it fell out.  At a certain fall of ground in the park, where the road turned round and crossed a bridge over the little river, the carriage came up with the first two horses, and Lady Baldock spoke a word to the Earl.  Then Violet pulled up, allowing the vehicle to pass the bridge first, and in this way she and Phineas were brought together,—­and in this way they rode on.  But he was aware that he must greatly increase the distance between them and the others of their party before he could dare to plead his suit, and even were that done he felt that he would not know how to plead it on horseback.